Core-cutting machine.



No. 723,935. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

B. R.-sMITH.

- 001m CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUGJIQ, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llll llll- THE mums pzrzns co. PHOTO-LITHO, WASHINGTON, u, r:v

N0.72s,9s5. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

E. E. SMITH. I 0035 CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIATION FILED AUG. 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"WIN! A J65. 3,.

UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFICE.

EDlVIN R. SMITH,'OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CORE-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,935, dated. March 31, 1903.

Application filed August 29, 1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Core-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the machines which are employed for cutting or slitting the core of cabbage preparatory to shredding the same in the manufacture of sauer kraut. Such machines ordinarily consist of a rotary feed-screwrthe pointed end of which penetrates the core of the cabbage and draws the latter upon the screw and a radial knife or cutter which is carried by the screw and caused to makea spiral incision in the core by the action of the screw, thereby laminating the core and enabling the same to be utilized as well as the rest of the cabbage. A suitable reversin g=gear operates to alternately turn the feed-screw in opposite directions for causing the cutter to enter the core and recede therefrom. When the machine is temporarily running idle, the operator is liable to be injured by the rotary core-cutter, and it is the object of my invention to provide the machine with a guard of simple construction which protects the operator and at the same time permits the cabbage to be freely presented to the cutter.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a core-cutting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached front View of the cutter-guard and cutter. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detached horizontal section of the cutter-guard and adja cent parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the horizontal bed or table of the machine, which is mounted on standards A. I

B indicates the pointed horizontal feedscrew projecting beyond the front side of the table A and carrying the core-cutter or knife 0, which extends radially from the central portion of the screw. The shank of the feedscrew is secured to the front end of a short shaft D, which turns in bearings d,-secured to the upper side of the table. This shaft is Serial No. 121,462. (No model.)

alternately driven in opposite directions by These bevel-wheels are keyed to the main horizontal driving-shaft F, which is arranged at right angles to the'screw-shaft and supported in bearings f, secured to the upper side of the table. The main shaft has' the usual tight and loose pulleys F F and is free to slide lengthwise in it's bearings for bringing either of the bevel-Wheels into gear with the pinion D. In the construction shown in the drawings the sliding shaft is shifted by means of a treadle G, pivoted to the base of'the machine and connected .bya lever H and a link H with a rotary cam-collar I, which is loosely mounted on the main shaft F between two shifting collars I 1 secured to said shaft. This collar has a rockearm j, which is pivot-- ally attached to the upper end of the link H and is provided in its under side with an oblique slot j, which receives a fixed abutmentpin is, projecting upwardly from the table A. By this means upon rocking the treadle in one or the other direction the collar I is shifted laterally by the action of its cam-slot j and the pin 10, thereby moving the main shaft and the bevel-wheels in the same direction.

The parts thus far described are well known in the art and form no part of my present in vention.

L indicates my improved guard, which is arranged to surround the rotary core-cutter 0 when the machine is running idle. This guard preferably consists of a dished plate or disk, the concave side of which faces the point of the feed-screw and which is provided with a central opening '11 for the passage of the screw and the core-cutter C. This disk is secured to the front ends of a pair of horizontal supporting-rods M, arranged on opposite sides of the feed-screw and sliding in guides 011 secured to the upper side of the table. The diskis yieldingly held in its forward position, in which it guards the corecutter, by springs N, which surround the rods M between the guides at andthe collars or shoulders 0 of the disk. These springs-are of the proper length to hold the disk in line with the core-cutter when the machine is running idle, as shown in Fig. 1. The forward movement of the supporting-rods M is limited by stops or collarsp secured to their rear ends.

When the machine is running idle,the corecutter rotates within the opening of the guard-disk,preventing the operator from coming in contact with the cutter.

In the operation of the machine, the feedscrew B is first driven forwardly by rocking the treadle G in the proper direction. Upon pressing the core of the cabbage against the point of the screw the latter by its feeding action draws the cabbage thereon, causing the core-cutter O to makea spiral incision in the core from end to end of the same and preparing the same for subsequently shredding in a sauer-kraut cutter with the rest of the cabbage. As the cabbage is drawn upon the feed-screw it bears against the yielding guard-disk L and causes the same to recede in the same measure as the cabbage advances, allowing the cutter to freely enter the core. After the cutter has fully penetrated the core the motion of the feed-screw is reversed by rocking the treadle G in the opposite direction for withdrawing the screw and the cutter from the core. As the cabbage recedes toward the end of the screw the compressed springs N cause the guard-disk to advance and follow up the cabbage, so that by the time the latter clears the core-cutter the disk will have arrived in line with the cutter for guarding the same.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination of a rotary cutter, a movable guard constructed to surround the cutter, and means for yieldingly holding the guard in line with the cutter when relieved from pressure whereby the cutter rotates within the guard when the machine runs idle, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a feed-screw having a core-cutter, a dished annular guard movable lengthwise of the feed-screw and constructed of the proper internal diameter to receive the core-cutter when advanced in line therewith, and a spring for yieldingly retaining said guard in its advanced position, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a bed or table, a rotary feed-screw journaled thereon and having a core-cutter, a movable guard-plate having an opening of sufficient diameter to receive the core-cutter, sliding supporting-rods guided on the table and carrying said plate, and backing-springs for said plate applied to said rods, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 22d day of August, 1902.

EDYVIN B. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, THEO. L. POPP. 

